There was one problem with the ballpark’s debut. Visiting San Diego State proved to be a rude guest. The Aztecs scored in each of the first four innings and went on to deal USD an 8-1 defeat before an overflow crowd of 1,921 in the season opener for both teams.

Tim Zier (Escondido High) went 3-for-5 for the Aztecs with three RBI. Starting pitcher Michael Cederoth (Steele Canyon) earned the win, allowing just one run and striking out six in five innings.

"We just didn't play well, and that had a lot to do with San Diego State," said Toreros coach Rich Hill.

In particular, Hill lauded the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Cederoth, who has been clocked at 100 mph.

"We knew what we were facing in Cederoth," Hill said. "He's a special one. He's a future major league pitcher. At the same time, you need to be patient with those guys. When you get your pitch you have to drive it and we didn't do it."

Said John Cunningham, who coached USD for 35 years and for whom the field is named after, “I think there was more electricity in the Aztecs dugout than the USD dugout. It might have been because they had nothing to lose.”

The players and coaches might disagree, but the game seemed almost secondary to the ballpark’s unveiling.

The Toreros’ old park, Cunningham Stadium, was a cement slab with 34 rows of metal seats, rising steeply from ground level.

Fowler Park, at a cost of $13.8 million, features no more than 16 rows. The 6,500-square-foot clubhouse rivals major league facilities.

There’s the 4,000-square-foot Torero Park. There the tall, handsome archway leading into the facility, the tan and beige color scheme, keeping with the university’s 16th century Spanish Renaissance architecture.

And there’s lights.

The Toreros began playing baseball in 1958. Friday night’s game was the 2,484th in school history. And it was the first night game ever on campus.

“It’s just another shining jewell in the crown that is USD,” said former USD football player J.T. Rogan.

Rogan served as a reminder of USD’s baseball past. Known as a creative heckler, he was in midseason form Friday night.